Drive pod system for an excavator

Abstract

A drive pod system for an excavator includes a first drive pod, a second drive pod, and a central gearbox. The first drive pod includes a first drive mechanism and a first drive pod frame, the first drive mechanism coupled to the first drive pod frame. The second drive pod includes a second drive mechanism and a second drive pod frame, the second drive mechanism coupled to the second drive pod frame. The central gearbox receives power produced by the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism and transfers the power to a ground manipulator apparatus of the excavator. The first and second drive pod frames are coupled to an excavator frame of the excavator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive pod system for an excavator, the drive pod system having a plurality of drive pods, wherein the drive pod system comprises:
 a first drive pod including a first drive mechanism and a first drive pod frame, the first drive mechanism coupled to the first drive pod frame;   a second drive pod including a second drive mechanism and a second drive pod frame, the second drive mechanism coupled to the second drive pod frame; and   a central gearbox to receive power produced by the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism and transfer the power to a ground manipulator apparatus of the excavator, the first and second drive pod frames being coupled to an excavator frame of the excavator, wherein each of the plurality of drive pods are structurally configured to be interchangeably coupled to the frame of the excavator and the central gearbox.   
     
     
         2 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive mechanisms are at least one of both engines, both motors, and a combination of an engine and a motor. 
     
     
         3 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive pods further include a first radiator and a second radiator to cool the first and second drive mechanisms, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The drive pod system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a first radiator guard and a second radiator guard disposed proximate to the first radiator and the second radiator, respectively, to guard the first radiator and the second radiator. 
     
     
         5 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first drive pod further includes a first transmission and the second drive pod further includes a second transmission, the first and second transmissions being coupled to drive shafts thereby connecting the first and second drive mechanisms to the central gearbox, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the excavator is a trencher. 
     
     
         7 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second engines are each a Caterpillar C32 engine. 
     
     
         8 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the excavator further comprises a fuel tank disposed a proximate distance from the first and second drive pods. 
     
     
         9 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central gearbox includes a first gear coupled to the first drive mechanism and a second gear coupled to the second drive mechanism, and a chain that couples the first gear and the second gear to the ground manipulator apparatus, wherein the first and second drive mechanisms drive the first and second gears, respectively, to transfer power from the first and second drive mechanisms to the central gearbox. 
     
     
         10 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second drive pod frames include a grate disposed over the first and second drive mechanism, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive pods are disposed on a same side of the central gearbox. 
     
     
         12 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive pods each further include a transmission and a transmission cooler to reduce a temperature of a transmission during use of the excavator. 
     
     
         13 . The drive pod system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second transmissions are 8000 series transmissions by Allison Transmission. 
     
     
         14 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive pods each further include an intake cooler to reduce a temperature entering the first and second drive mechanisms. 
     
     
         15 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second drive pods further each include a battery coupled to the first and second drive mechanisms, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The drive pod system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third drive pod including a third drive mechanism and a third drive pod frame, the third drive mechanism coupled to the third drive pod frame. 
     
     
         17 . The drive pod system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a fourth drive pod including a fourth drive mechanism and a fourth drive pod frame, the fourth drive mechanism coupled to the fourth drive pod frame.